Notorious (1946)

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

For a movie that takes place after WWII, with Nazi's and spies, this movie is mostly psychological. There isn't action, nor is there fast paced suspense like any James Bond or Taken film. However there is a surplus of dialogue between Sebastian, Huberman, and Devlin. This take on the genre allows plenty of character development to blossom between the characters, focusing on their intentions, moods, and the overall tone of the movie. Maybe not one of Hitchcock's finest works, but it gets the job done in a well written plot, fairly likable characters and justifiable ending.

A beautiful drama, albeit a couple of holes. I had been expecting Alicia's father to play a larger role in the film, given how much he had been discussed in the beginning. I had also expected a bigger deal to have been made over the role of the uranium ore. I was hoping to hear more about what the Nazis wanted with it, yet the film ended without explanation. I did like the ending however. The to Notorious is rather unconventional, leaving the fate of the leading lady Alicia rather wide open, and instead sealing the fate of Alex Sebastian in the last moment of the film. Alex Sebastian had what was coming to him, yet the end of the film made you feel for a bit, as the camera followed him up the stairs to certain death. It was suspenseful and excellently filmed, not his best, but close to it.

Desperate to dissociate herself from her Nazi war criminal father, a young woman with a drinking problem agrees to spy on one of her father's most trusted friends and gets dangerously close in this Alfred Hitchcock wartime drama. The film caused a stir in its day by featuring an elongated kissing scene, and the romance that develops between Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman's characters is pivotal as a secondary motive for her to cooperate. That said, the romance scenes are also the driest parts of the film with the plot taking over half an hour to really get going amidst talk, talk and even more talk. Things do eventually pick-up though and the film is topped off by a deathly intense final scene, as well as an effective conclusion that is both uplifting and gloomy (what an excellent, suggestive final shot!) but it is odd how long it takes the film to warm up. Calling the movie a thriller is in fact inaccurate as the thrills and suspenseful moments are few and far between with several dull patches. During its best moments though, 'Notorious' is unmissable stuff. There is a great moment in which Claude Rains opens Bergman's palms and almost discovers a key she has stolen; angular shots and zooms in and out are also used effectively throughout. Rains is very good too. In many ways, he is the heart and soul of the film with his genuine affection for Bergman and deep- seeded worries about his future late in the piece, and it is refreshing to have so human an antagonist. The overall film may not be quite as solid as his performance, but it makes for decent viewing all the same.

After watching the film Notorious I was very happy that I decided to watch this film it was great! The story line of this film, acting, directing, and everything was just awesome I was pleased with this film over all as a whole. Having seen another Hitchcock movie I think that his movies are just amazing and I think I will definitely look into watching more films from Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. In this film Hitchcock not only include suspense and mystery but this film also had romance and thrill. When watching this film you are taken on a roller coaster of emotions and you are really interested in what is going on in the story. Overall this was a super film and Alfred Hitchcock is a amazing director.